Merry Christmas

Traditions.

Today I was thinking on traditions for Christmas we have a few.

My husband's family grew up going to grandma's house for Christmas eve dinner--they ALWAYS had Hawaiian Haystacks.  Our family has them on the EVE of Christmas eve.   On Christmas eve we have a family party (my side)-exchange gifts and have a white elephant exchange.  My kids look forward to it and it's a good time with great food.
Another tradition my brothers and I did was to all sleep in the same room on Christmas eve--my kids have carried this one on--they just visit and giggle and have fun.
We also read from Luke 2 and watch this video:

Traditionally Christmas day my parents also drive to where the grandkids are to see their new "treasures".  It's nice because then the kids can show off and visit with their grandparents.

For New Years it's a bit different.  A few years in a row we had a Lord of the Ring marathon-eating food and watching the movies together.  Last year we missed out for different reasons, my 14 year old is trying to convince the older two it would be FUN! ;)

What are some of your traditions?  It's never to late to start one or change one up!

#sharethegift

Wanted to share this sweet message to start off your December!

The reason for the season--Merry CHRISTmas

I wanted to share a beautiful short video with you.  There are more celebrating the coming of the Savior and his birth which can be seen HERE.  You can also view them in itunes HERE.  I hope that your day is wonderful tomorrow spent with family--Merry Christmas.

so I'm going to toot my own horn!

I finally have the time to sit down and get our Christmas card ready.  I realized as I sift through our pictures there really isn't a picture of all of us together--SO what!  I did have a picture of my hubby & I and then the kids so I used those.  I searched through SEVERAL cards online and just couldn't find anything that fit.  THEN then light bulb went on!  DUH!  You've got digital Christmas paper!  Truth be told I've been collecting digital items hoping one day I would be brave enough to actually do something with them.  Now, I know this isn't the fanciest card around but I'm pretty proud of the fact that I made it all myself.  NO help from my techno AMAZING hubby, or googling for videos:

what was even better it only took me 45 minutes to complete!  I ordered them at 4x6 perfect for A2 envelope size and I can pick them up in an hour from Costco!  WOOHOO!  One less thing on my checklist, AND I proved to myself that I can do HARD things! :)

supplies used:

pattern paper: Echo Park

type fonts: Apple typewriter, mr. and mrs. popsicle

not sure where the doilies came from it just says Christmas Giveaways

One more thing I wanted to share was about my December Daily.  I didn't want my pictures to have finger prints all over them (I'm printing them 2 x 3 from home...) so I am making my own protectors out of these:

yes, there are 100 in the stack, they were sitting on my desk from another project.  They work great!  here is what some of mine look like:

Thanks for reading through this post!  Hope you are having an AWESOME day!

Joy, small sized

so this weekend I was able to complete some friend gifts, very simple but SUPER fun!  I had scraps from other projects so these came together quickly for me:

supplies:

pattern paper: My Mind's eye

letters: pink paislee

snowflake, hollie: from Hobby lobby

ribbon: may arts

scroll cut at LSS, ornament from my stash (clearance some where!)

supplies:

Christmas balls, flowers from Hobby Lobby Christmas section

pattern paper: crate paper

scroll cut at LSS (added some paint and glitter

chipboard: Maya Road

ribbon: Michael's $1 bin, may arts

Sorry this is such a quick post have to go help a kid with something! :)  Thanks for stopping in!

How we do Christmas around here....Need, Want, Wear, Read

Okay, I don't like wrapping gifts--it could possibly be because I wait until the last moment--why do I wait? it's not like I don't have tape and wrapping paper...  This year while picking up some other things at my local Walmart I ran across this:

guess what?  I like wrapping presents now!  It's just like a tape runner AND it lets you have as much tape as you want--you are in control.  My kids can even use it and like it!

Tonight I am going to a cookie exchange and I'm taking my most favorite cookies!  My mom used to make these for us and I REALLY like Molasses.  here is the recipe:

Joe Froggers

Cook 10 minutes at 375 degrees

#1 SIFT:

8 cups flour 1 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. ginger ½ tsp allspice

#2

¾ cup water 1 Tbsp Rum flavor

#3

2 tsp. baking soda 2 cup molasses

#2 CREAM:

1 shortening 2 cup sugar

Add ½ of 1,2,3; repeat.  Chill for at least 3 hours.  Roll out on a floured surface ¼” thick, cut with cookie cutters.  If it gets to warm  chill again.

A few years ago my friend inspired me to SIMPLIFY Christmas with a focus.  a NEED, a WANT, a WEAR, and a READ.  I did it last year for the first time and it worked out AWESOME, it was like a serious weight was taken off my shoulders.  Christmas should be joyous!

Lastly I have a picture of one of my gifts, simple easy and QUICK to make!  (no worries this person doesn't read my blog!)

closeups:

 I bought the frames at Big Lots, didn't have to do anything to them they were perfect just the way they are.  The paper is October Afternoon, and glitter paper I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  I used my cricut to cut out the letters.  The flowers I bought a few years ago, I think they are prima....

Thanks for the visit, I know it's a little random--but I have been described as RANDOM. :)

Believe banner...

In October I was in charge of a class at church I collected and put together a banner (based on another sample)--it actually turned out quite lovely if I do say so myself! :)  I made a sample which will be gifted away...but I FINALLY got mine all put together and wanted to share it:

closeups:

  supplies used:

pattern paper: Lost & Found from My Mind's eye

chipboard, glitter paper, distress ink, sewing,

jewels, paint, cricut

various embellishments: Hobby Lobby Christmas Aisle

punch: Martha Stewart

ribbon: May Arts

With all the detail it did take me a few hours to assemble, I added the sewing to mine that was NOT on the sample...SO glad I got it done for this year's Christmas decorations! I'm off working on some other projects (presents, I'll share another time!)
Thanks so much for the visit!  Hope that your weekend is WONDERFUL!

December Daily final pages

Here are the final pages of my December daily, I'm so glad that I finally got it together.  My kids have been enjoying looking at it this year as well as last years.  One of my sons said I REALLY like this count down that you made.  So cute!  

 I had a wonderful surprise!  My Nativity 1975 layout was featured on the Lily Bee Designs blog.  you can see it HERE.

Thanks for stopping in today!  Hope you have a WONDERFUL day!!

Merry Christmas!!

(digi card is from Becky Higgins FREE stuff!)

Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

Been meaning to share this with you!

This is how I'm doing are Christmas cards this year!  I'm SO excited, usually they stay in their envelopes and we don't get to look at them again.  Inspiration hit when I saw someone that had bought some wonderful thing at Ikea to permanently hang things from.  I liked the idea but I didn't want to make it permanent.  So I bought command strips, string and clothes pins--they can all be found at Walmart and I can reuse them!

 These cute people right ^ here got married today!  This is one of the cutest invitations EVER!  Congrats to them!  Off to work on Christmas cards and cookies!  Thanks for dropping in!

My December Daily

 Yes, I am doing one.  I didn't get it done before December started so it's coming together when I can get it done.  I've been journaling and taking pictures and I decided to go very simple.  Another thing that is different about last years album I'm doing a 6" x 8" just like Ms. Ali Edwards--REALLY like this size.  My pages are less artistic making more room for journaling and pictures, I learned last year that although some of my pages were pretty they were hard to use for what I want them for.  So far so good!  My printer cartridge was acting up and wouldn't realign, so DH suggested I clean it.  VOILA!  works again!  Okay, so here we go from the beginning--**WARNING photo heavy!**

Thanks for stopping in!  off for family movie night--we're watching elf! :)

 

Sweet Ornament--DT call Scrapbook Circle

This is my last layout I made with the December kit at Scrapbook Circle.  I LOVED this kit!  I also was able to use my cricut expression on all but one of my layouts.  On this layout the ornaments right above the title were actually cut from my cricut--they are actually petals, the center was cut in half for the red border just below the title.  I was inspired by a few layouts on this one and am happy with the result.  This picture sort of cracks me up, I edited my picture with iphoto blurry the edges, I really like the dreamlike quality.  (I think this is how my son thinks when he sees candy... LOL!)
I wanted to mention that Scrapbook Circle is having it's design team call!  It's a GREAT place to design for!  Click HERE for all the details!

Off to another busy one today, I really appreciate you taking the time to stop in and visit!

candy cane--TREE

I have sort of funny story about this layout, I've taken like 15 pictures of this thing and can't get it to crop correctly. (the page is curled up from the mist, and I don't have the patience to fix it!)  So this is what we get! :)  I used scraps, rubons, and embellishments from the Winter Wonderland kit at Scrapbook Circle.  I added some stickles to make my tree sparkle.  My son thought it was a birthday cake! LOL!!  Funny kid!

Life; of course is crazy I'm playing catch up.  Today was pretty productive and I'm feeling good about it.  Love when I have one of those days!

I sure hope that your holiday season is going well and that you are TRULY enjoying the season.  Thanks for taking the time to pop in!

Nativity 1975

I have to tell you this page came together quickly!  The idea sort of simmered in my mind for a few days but once I got a hold of the supplies it just came together.  Again, I used the Winter Wonderland from Scrapbook Circle.  What's fun about this page is that the red scalloped border & the polka dot border were actually lily bee shaped squares I cut to make these borders.  

I love the look on my face in this pictures.  It's one of my favorites of all time, I remember feeling like Mary and that my raggedy doll really was the baby Jesus.  My brother's faces are so cute too as they seriously consider the scene.

Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, and for those of you that like FREE fonts you gotta go check at the Creating Keepsakes blog.  They have 3 today!  Hope you have a GREAT weekend!

O Christmas Tree

 I made this tree as a hostess gift for mom because she hosted Thanksgiving at her house.  I bought the cone paper mache at Michaels.  I used some of the Winter Wonderland kit from Scrapbook Circle for the ornaments, and snowflake topper.  I also used my Cricut to cut the scalloped circles, snowflake topper, and ornaments. the ornaments are actually petals, I used the silhouette and center.

 I embossed the cut scallops, added some chunky glitter to the snowflakes, and tulle, small wooden bobbins, and tulle for the trim.  It was an all day project do to little distractions here and there, but I REALLY like how it turned out.

I'm off to enjoy some together time before my WILD children go to bed.  This is going to be a long week, and tonight they need to get their sleep!  Thanks for stopping in!

Christmas Eve!

Can you believe it?! I'm all wrapped up and ready to go, my kids have pretty much been outta control for like a week and a half...ANYWAY!! I love Christmas! I wanted to share one thing I did for my wrapping this morning:

Super simple, super easy. I bought my bags at Target, and need to get some more, I'm out! I don't know if you can tell but the ornaments have stickles on them.

One last thing I wanted to share:

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Treat bags

This is my version of the treat bags for Christmas. I even pulled out my dusty sizzix to emboss the paper! I know..I'm amazed! With the peace on earth one, I have absolutely NO paper left from the December kit from Scrapbook Circle. That's saying something as there was a TON! It was also the last of the gold ball thingies.

The chipboard is also from the December kit, but the tulle & stickles are from my stash.

I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and visit me! Have a MERRY Christmas! :)

Busy Elf

Okay, so my family albums are all wrapped up without me taking pictures of them....but I can share these other little fun things that I've been making:

This frame I made for a friend I got the idea from my friend Melanie:

I painted crackle paint on the $5 frame I bought at Walmart. I then sprayed clear spray paint on it so that the paint wouldn't flake off. I also spritz some glimmer mist on the paper glued down this cheery chipboard--glittered it a bit. I tied the tulle on before placing the back on....

I made three of these snowmen, this one happens to be mine:

The most time consuming part was his face. But it was just so fun! I also liked the opportunity to use up some Christmas paper I wouldn't use other wise.... (and yes he looks better in person...)

I needed one more quick gift, I dug in my closet and found another clear paint can (I'm trying to use from my stash instead of running out to the store.... the rub on is something I've had for 4 years. Yeah! The shapes were cut from my Cricut. I was so excited to discover I had a scalloped edged circle!

Lastly, I made these coasters:

sorry, for the quality of the picture it was over cast all day yesterday. They really turned out great! I got the idea from Becky Higgins blog (scroll down to the November 3 post for the supply list.). The wooden coasters I bought at Joann's but you can also find them at Michaels. The paper I already had....

I'm just finishing off some little treat bags today (will share those tomorrow) and the kiddos and I will be working on cookie plates to deliver! Woohoo!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope your Christmas preparations go well and hope that it is Merry for you!